Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard don yarn say goalkeeper David Raya na one of the big leaders wey dey inside the dressing room. Odegaard talk am for him match programme notes before the Champions League quarterfinal wey Arsenal win against Sporting CP. Him write say Raya don dey consistent for long time, from last season reach this one, and say him quality dey unbelievable.
“He’s so important for us and it’s great to have a character like him at the back for us as well,” Odegaard yarn. “He’s a leader in the dressing room for sure. He’s a guy who talks a lot and takes a lot of responsibility for the team.” The captain add say Raya dey help am well-well as part of the leadership group, and say him na great character to have around.
Odegaard talk say everybody fit see Raya quality for pitch, but off the pitch sef, him dey bring plenty things for the team and the group. “He’s really grown in that role and stature since he arrived here, so massive credit to him for that,” Odegaard yarn. “When you look at our team, there are a lot of different leaders, and David is someone who does a lot of work behind the scenes.”
The captain yarn say Raya dey talk plenty and him dey care about people and how to make everybody give their best. Odegaard talk say maybe supporters no go sabi this one well because dem dey always see am for back of the pitch during play, but him na really big part of the group and strong leader.
For the Champions League quarterfinal against Sporting CP, Raya no necessarily get him best game for Arsenal shirt, but him help the Gunners progress to the semi-finals after back-to-back clean sheets. Those clean sheets make Raya match Arsenal record for most clean sheets in one Champions League campaign, wey Jens Lehmann set for 2005/06 season wey Arsenal reach final.
Raya go now get opportunity to improve on him total of eight clean sheets for the semi-final tie against Atletico Madrid. The goalkeeper don break record for Arsenal most Champions League clean sheets of all time, reach 18 for 33 matches. That total make am edge ahead of Lehmann for the club all-time standings.
Raya still dey far from the most clean sheets for the competition history wey Manuel Neuer get with 64, and him dey for 29th position for the overall standings. But if him get two more clean sheets, him go enter top-25, so maybe that one go be him target for the remaining part of this campaign.
For player wey only make him Champions League debut at age 28, that go be impressive feat, and na big part of the reason why Arsenal remain the only unbeaten team for the competition this season.
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